![\"\"](\"https:\/\/ourtimenew.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/IMG_9190-240x300.webp\")
\nFor illustrative purpose only
\nHe had visited the hospital countless times, each trip leaving him with the same blend of irritation and exhaustion.<\/p>\n
\nFor illustrative purpose only
\nHe had visited the hospital countless times, each trip leaving him with the same blend of irritation and exhaustion.<\/p>\n
Cyril always opted for the stairs over the elevator\u2014not for fitness, but to avoid small talk, sympathetic glances, or the obligation to feign concern.<\/p>\n
Today, he brought a small bouquet of white roses. Larissa, his wife, had been unconscious for weeks and wouldn\u2019t notice them. Still, the flowers projected the right image\u2014for the doctors, for her relatives. Appearances had to be maintained.<\/p>\n
Every day she remained alive drained his finances further. The machinery, the medications, the constant care\u2014it was more than he wanted to keep paying for.<\/p>\n
Yet everyone still clung to the idea of hope. Everyone except him.<\/p>\n
What if Larissa didn\u2019t make it? Her estate, her wealth, her business empire\u2014all of it would become his. The thought brought an uncomfortable mix of guilt and relief.
\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/ourtimenew.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/IMG_9191-300x226.webp\")
\nFor illustrative purpose only
\nAs he entered her room, he leaned close to her still form. \u201cLarissa,\u201d he murmured, \u201cI never truly loved you\u2014not the way you believed.\u201d<\/p>\n
His voice shook. \u201cThis illness has bled me dry. If you\u2019d just\u2026 slip away\u2026 everything would be simpler.\u201d<\/p>\n
Unbeknownst to Cyril, someone was beneath the bed.<\/p>\n
Mirabel, a hospital volunteer, had hidden there to avoid running into him. She had heard every word.<\/p>\n
Later, Cyril resumed his role as the doting husband when Larissa\u2019s father, Harland, arrived. Harland, worn down with worry, asked if there was any progress.<\/p>\n
Cyril responded with practiced sincerity, concealing the rot beneath. But Harland\u2019s eyes lingered on him a beat too long, suspicion taking root.<\/p>\n
Troubled by what she had overheard, Mirabel struggled with what to do. Speaking up could risk her job\u2014but staying silent might endanger Larissa. In the end, she told Harland.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe said he\u2019d be better off if she d!ed,\u201d she revealed.<\/p>\n
Harland went pale, but he nodded. \u201cI\u2019ve had my doubts for a while now.\u201d<\/p>\n
He quickly made arrangements to have a trusted person present in Larissa\u2019s room at all times.<\/p>\n
When Cyril returned the next day, he could feel the tension. Mirabel watched him closely, and Harland seemed ever-present. He kept up his performance, but soon Harland pulled him aside.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you come near her with any ill intent again,\u201d Harland said coldly, \u201cyou\u2019ll lose everything.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cyril brushed off the warning\u2014until Larissa began to stir. As her fingers twitched and her eyes fluttered, something cracked inside him.<\/p>\n
Old memories flooded back\u2014her laughter, her strength, her unwavering support. With them came a wave of shame.<\/p>\n
As Larissa slowly regained consciousness, Cyril whispered an apology, tears slipping down his face.<\/p>\n
Days passed, then weeks. Larissa grew stronger. Cyril remained at her side\u2014not out of obligation, but because he genuinely wanted to be there. Harland and Mirabel kept a watchful eye but began to notice something different in him.<\/p>\n
When Larissa was finally discharged, she looked at Cyril and said, \u201cYou stayed. Thank you.\u201d
\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/ourtimenew.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/IMG_9192-300x171.webp\")
\nChoking back emotion, Cyril replied, \u201cI\u2019m sorry it took me this long to see what truly matters.\u201d<\/p>\n
No one could say what lay ahead. But the bitterness that once clouded their bond had given way to something fragile, yet sincere\u2014a chance to begin again.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
For illustrative purpose only He had visited the hospital countless times, each trip leaving him with the same blend of irritation and exhaustion. Cyril always opted for… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":19015,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-19013","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ourtimenew.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19013","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ourtimenew.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ourtimenew.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ourtimenew.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ourtimenew.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=19013"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/ourtimenew.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19013\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":19017,"href":"https:\/\/ourtimenew.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19013\/revisions\/19017"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ourtimenew.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/19015"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ourtimenew.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=19013"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ourtimenew.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=19013"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ourtimenew.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=19013"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}